ab acia et acu

Latin

Etymology

From ab (“from”) + aciā, the ablative singular of acia (“thread”), + et (“and”) + acū, the ablative singular of acus (“needle”). Literally “from thread and needle”.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ab ˈa.ki.aː et ˈa.kuː/, [äb ˈäkiäː ɛt̪ ˈäkuː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ab ˈa.t͡ʃi.a et ˈa.ku/, [äb ˈäːt͡ʃiä ɛt̪ ˈäːku]

Adverb

ab aciā et acū

1. (idiomatic, colloquial) in great detail
   • c. 27 CE – 66 CE, Petronius, Satyricon 76:

     Hic mihi dīxit etiam ea, quae oblītus eram; ab aciā et acū mī omnia exposuit; intestīnās meās nōverat; tantum quod mihi non dīxerat, quid prīdiē cēnāveram.

     He even told me things I had forgotten; he showed me all in great detail; he knew my guts; the only thing he hadn't told me, what I had dined the previous day.